Ron's Birthday Ride - Wed 23rd May

A jolly gathering at the Longmeads Centre on a perfect day for a perfect ride.  Tom, Sonia, Rosemary, John C., Mark Roy, Norman, John Scott, Roger and last but not least our guide across unridden turf, down shady avenues, round tight corners into leafy lanes, unravelling the history of the five mental hospitals that we passed on the way. Along with a smattering of natural history, sorry Ron can't remember the name of the huge conifers (Sequoia?), a ride enhanced by the blossom of horsechestnuts, Indian chestnuts, hawthorn and birdsong. 

I think we were offroad entirely, except for a short section along bikepath next to the A243. See the trail for the route, a really beautiful ride through lots of old railway track that I had not ridden on before (the mental hospitals were connected by their own railway track  hence a network of useful routes). Lunch was taken in the garden of The Woodman at Ashtead and the afternoon took in a visit to "the well" at the centre of The Wells on Epsom Common, again a place I had not visited before. A well reccie'd route enjoyed by all.

Thank you Ron. Must repeat it next year!